When trees are properly cared for, they are valuable – and growing – assets, worth 3 or more times their investment (in fact, you can even calculate trees estimated benefits to your property using Davey’s National Tree Benefit Calculator).

Healthy trees give us:

1. Healthy people

• 100 trees remove 1.2 tons of CO2 per year
• 100 trees remove 130 lbs. of pollutants per year
• Recent studies have shown that the loss of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer in 15 states has caused 15,000 more deaths from cardiovascular disease and 6,000 more deaths from lower respiratory disease. I met Geoffrey Donovan, researcher, (gdonovan@fs.fed.us) at a recent conference and was amazed at the information collected for this research.

2. Healthy communities:  Tree filled neighborhoods have lower levels of domestic violence, and are safer and more sociable.

3. A healthy environment: 100 mature trees catch about 77,000 gallons of rainwater per year, decreasing stormwater runoff.

4. Homeowner savings: Properly placed trees can save you up to 30% on annual air conditioning costs and save 10-15% on winter heating costs.

5. Higher property values: Each large front yard tree can add 1% to your house sales price. Back yard trees have slightly lower values. Large specimen trees can add 10-15% to your property value.

This ash adds tremendous value to the property.

6. Better business: In tree-lined commercial districts, shoppers report :

• more frequent shopping
• longer shopping trips
• willing to spend more for parking
• willing to spend up to 12% more for goods

When trees are neglected, they can become a liability.

Trees should be protected carefully during construction.

Across the country, environmental and aesthetic benefits such as energy savings, stormwater runoff reduction, cleaner air, and higher property values are an average of three times greater than tree care costs. The USDA Forest Service agrees, it pays to take care of your trees!

About the Author

Dave Leonard has been promoting tree health care in Lexington, Kentucky for 38 years. As an active member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) for 32 years, Dave has served as both president and executive director of ISA’s Kentucky Chapter and has been a member of its Board of Directors for 25 years. He is also the TREE Fund Liaison to the Kentucky Chapter of ISA.

info@dlarborist.com

1302 N. Limestone St.
Lexington, Kentucky 40505

Through the Power Source Alliance, key utility industry players Arizona Public Service, National Grid, PacifiCorp and Unitil are sponsors of the STIHL Tour des Trees, the TREE Fund’s largest fundraising event supporting arboriculture research and education. This alliance demonstrates the industry’s commitment to pursuing science-based arboriculture knowledge in sustaining the world’s urban forests.

Utilities and utility arborists also support the future of arboriculture through the TREE Fund’s Utility Arborist Research Fund (UARF) campaign. In 2011, Arizona Public Service launched the fund with a $100,000 pledge and a challenge to other utilities to join in supporting research specific to utility arboriculture. The TREE Fund is pleased to announce that several companies have stepped up to do so. Major donors to UARF are:

The first project being funded by the UARF is already in progress! John Goodfellow of BioCompliance Consulting, Inc. was awarded a $25,000 grant in Fall/Winter 2012 to develop a business case for scheduling utility vegetation management on a preventive versus corrective maintenance basis. Up-to-the-minute details on Mr. Goodfellow’s research will be available at the upcoming Researcher Reception, a casual meet-and-greet at the start of the TREE Fund’s live auction on August 5, 2013 in Toronto. Mr. Goodfellow, along with other TREE Fund grant recipients, will be sharing their cutting edge arboriculture research with auction attendees. Hearing directly from the researchers is an exciting opportunity to see the impact that donors such as UARF are making in the field of arboriculture.

The TREE Fund would like to thank the members of the Power Source Alliance and Utility Arborist Research Fund for their commitment to the care and health of urban trees through research. With these important utility industry collaborations, the future of urban trees looks brighter than ever.

Jack Kimmel International Grants (up to $10,000)

Sougata Bardhan, University of Missouri Columbia

Impact of storm water runoff on tree roots, physiology and rhizosphere microbial diversity in urban forests

Travis Marsico, Arkansas State University

Determining influences of stream channelization and an invasive species on rate of canopy tree growth in an urban park

John Z. Duling Grants (up to $10,000)

David Chojnacky, Virginia Tech University

Management of urban trees to meet canopy cover goals: Falls Church residential landscape plan comparison

John Goodfellow, BioCompliance Consulting, Inc.

Characterizing branch failure modes

Angela Hewitt, The Morton Arboretum

Establishment and stability of large trees transplanted bare root

Jordan Marshall, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne

Development and assessment of municipal ash tree management decision models

Utility Arborist Research Grant ($25,000)

John Goodfellow, BioCompliance Consulting, Inc.

Development of a business case for scheduling utility vegetation management on a preventive vs. corrective maintenance basis

TREE Fund Arboriculture Education Grants (up to $5,000)

Environmental Conservation Effort      

Tree education for schools    

Rotary Youth Camp

Canopy access for all

Biomechanics Week ($15,000)

The TREE Fund awarded $15,000 to support Tree Biomechanics Week 2013, to be held August 12 – 16 at The Davey Tree Expert Company’s research arboretum in Shalersville, OH. Hosted by Davey and the International Society of Arboriculture’s Science and Research Committee, Tree Biomechanics Week will conclude with a public symposium on Friday, August 16.

March 2013

Tree Biomechanics Week 2013 provides tree biomechanics researchers with a unique opportunity to collaborate and coordinate their efforts to improve our understanding of how trees respond to stress and why they fail. The 2013 event, hosted by ISA and The Davey Tree Expert Company and supported by a grant from the TREE Fund, is scheduled for August 12 – 16 at Davey’s Research Arboretum in Shalersville, Ohio.

1  Hyland R. Johns Research Grant—for research that directly affects industry professionals’ work

5  John Z. Duling Grants—“seed funding” for new, innovative research

2  Jack Kimmel International Grants—for arboriculture research projects worldwide

1  Utility Arborist Research Grant—for  research into issues affecting utility arboriculture and right-of-way management

1  Safe Arborist Techniques Grant—for research into tree dynamics, hazard identification, risk management and improvements in equipment and techniques for the practicing arborist

2  Robert Felix Memorial Scholarships—for college students studying arboriculture or  urban forestry

1  John Wright Memorial Scholarship—for high school seniors and returning college students pursuing careers related to arboriculture

1  Ohio Chapter ISA Education Grant—for arboricultural education programs/projects within the State of Ohio

3  Arboriculture Education Grants—to support the development of arboriculture educational programs and materials for K-12 students

1  Sponsorship of an industry-wide research symposium at the Morton Arboretum

A sincere thank you to all our donors without whom these awards would not be possible!

2013 applications are now available online for the Hyland R. Johns Research Grants, Ohio Chapter ISA Education Grants, TREE Fund Arboriculture Education Grants, and Robert Felix Memorial Scholarships; these are due April 1. Applications for the 2013 John Wright Memorial Scholarships are open and due by May 15.

Viewpoint by Janet Bornancin

Scientia Potentia Est (Knowledge is Power)

TREE Fund Research: Sowing Seeds and Answering the Real Questions

How Does a Tree Care Question Become a Research Project?

Announcing Record-Breaking Chapter Challenge Results

Welcome Returning Trustee Jim Barborinas

Gearing Up for the 2013 STIHL Tour des Trees International Cycling Adventure

Save the Date for the TREE Fund Auction

Thank You to Our 2012 Major Donors and Sponsors

Mark Your Calendar